Glass Plate Photography Collection Unveiled by Denmark Historical Society
Over 600 glass plate photographs captured by early 20th-century photographer Bert Saw have been acquired, documenting the history of Western Australia's Great Southern region.
The Denmark Historical Society has acquired a remarkable collection of over 600 glass plate photographs taken by Bert Saw, an early 20th-century photographer from Albany, Western Australia. The images document early white settlers, soldiers departing for the Boer War, and key infrastructure development such as road and rail construction throughout the Great Southern region.
Operated a 12-kilogram glass plate camera without formal training
Saw used a 12-kilogram glass plate camera, believed to have been made in Cheapside, England in the 1890s. Despite lacking formal training, he began his photographic work around 1908 and operated primarily in the Nornalup, Denmark, and Albany areas. The heavy, cumbersome camera required considerable skill to use, particularly in the rugged landscape of Western Australia.
Images left to nephew, donated to historical society
The images were left to Saw's nephew, Geoff Saw, who later donated them to the historical society. The collection includes prints developed in Saw's small hut on the Bow River, where he also produced his own emulsion fluid.
Growing recognition for Saw's high-quality work
Historical society members noted that Saw's work is of exceptionally high quality and has been increasingly recognized. Notably, one of his images was featured in a book about state photographer Ernest Lund Mitchell, marking a significant milestone for the previously unsung photographer.